After the wedding, I moved back into the Vernal mansion.
That house was no longer a cage to me, and I was no longer a stranger passing through. Every pack member genuinely welcomed my return. They threw welcome-home parties one after another until I had to order them to stop trying to apologize to me this way.
Even though I'd returned to the mansion, I still ran my café.
It had become my career. Even after reconciling with Elias, I had no intention of giving it up. Elias supported me unconditionally, regularly ordering coffee from me on behalf of Vernal Corporation.
One day, I was bringing his usual coffee order to the company. When I stepped into the elevator, I noticed a female employee I had never seen before. Her distinctly different scent told me she wasn't a werewolf, just an ordinary human girl.
If my past with Elias had taught us anything, allowing humans to work at Vernal Corporation was one of the changes.
Because the Goldens had saved my life, I understood that humans, like werewolves, had both good and bad people among them. More than anyone, I hoped that one day werewolves and humans could coexist peacefully, not just as hunters and hunted.
Elias's initiative was an attempt for my sake. It was also a way to repay the Goldens' kindness.
So I looked at this young new employee and couldn't help striking up a conversation. "Are you new here?"
She glanced at me in surprise and nodded.
"What do you think of Vernal Corporation?" I asked curiously. That question opened the floodgates. She became animated and launched into endless praise for the company's benefits. I listened with a smile.
"Sounds like Elias treats you all well," I said.
She froze at my words. "You call him Elias?"
I nodded. "Yes. Why?"
Her gaze dropped to the coffee I was carrying. Her expression turned strange. "So... you're delivering coffee to Mr. Vernal?"
I nodded again.
She sighed with a frustrated "I knew it" look. She seemed to distance herself from me, crossing her arms and putting on a stern face. "Forgive me for being blunt, ma'am, but as an employee of this company, I feel obligated to warn you. I know Mr. Vernal is very attractive. There are countless women here who want to get close to him. But believe me. You don't stand a chance."
"What?" I was stunned. I couldn't even process what she meant.
She declared loudly, "Mr. Vernal is married! And he loves his wife very, very much!"
I was shocked speechless again. I could only stare at her wide-eyed.
She must have thought my expression meant I was convinced, because she doubled down. "It's true! Mr. Vernal never lets the company work overtime because he wants to go home to his wife and child. He always has photos of his wife and child on his desk—they're there no matter who visits. I haven't seen them myself, but everyone says when he looks at those photos, it's like he's looking at his whole world!"
My face flushed crimson. I was too embarrassed to speak. "I… I see…"
She nodded vigorously. "Now that you understand, stop using cheap tricks like delivering coffee to get close to Mr. Vernal! And don't call him by his first name. If he hears you, he'll definitely fire you for his wife's sake!"
I opened my mouth to explain. Just then, the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Elias and Arian were standing right there in the hallway waiting for me. The moment Arian saw me, he ran over and threw himself into my arms. "Mommy!"
The new employee's eyes went wide. Her jaw dropped.
Elias walked over too. He took the coffee from my hands, wrapped me in a gentle embrace, and kissed my cheek. "Thank you for coming, sweetheart. Is today's coffee a new recipe?"
"Mm-hmm. Try it." I held my child in my arms and gazed up at my husband. My eyes sparkled. A smile I couldn't wipe away spread across my face.
The new employee's expression was beyond description. Her eyes darted between the three of us as she stammered, barelyable to form a complete sentence. "He called you Mommy… You… you're Mrs. Vernal?"
I gave her an embarrassed smile. "Yes. Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."
